The Dewan Rakyat Speaker argued that any debate on the matter here and the answers to questions given by ministers might be used by US lawyers during trial over there.

“In the US courts, even if they don’t call any suspects from Malaysia, they can quote what’s been said here in order to influence the trial there

“For that reason, I don’t allow the debates. Because any line here can be used as an excuse to influence the courts there even though it’s a foreign land,” he told reporters during a press conference today.

“Anything said by minister here can be quoted in the trials in the US. They will influence the outcome,” Pandikar explained further.

Pandikar added that he followed three laws under the Standing Order which is 23(1)(G), 32 (A) and 21 (A) to declare the issue sub judice.

He also questioned the rationale behind local lawmakers especially from the Opposition raising questions on DoJ, when the case in the US is still ongoing.

“If that thing happened in American land, why do the local lawmakers want to debate it in the Malaysian parliament?” Pandikar asked.

“The reason why I have to explain this is because I don’t want to be seen that I’m doing it, God forbid for the benefit of someone else,” he added.

Parliamentary discussion on DoJ’s ongoing lawsuit to seize assets linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd were tantamount to sub judice, Pandikar had ruled on Monday.

He then said that ministers need not respond to questions on the topic.